By Jessica Zimmerman

While summer camps are happening all over Hampton Roads, the VMASC and MIBE Maritime Trades Magnet (MTM) Project is working with Norfolk Parks and Recreation to enhance their summer program for teens from across the city. Over the course of seven weeks, middle and high school students will receive hands-on learning experiences with CNC mills, 3D printers, and multiple types of robots.  

The program launched this past spring with 12 high schools in seven local school divisions – Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Isle of Wight, Hampton, and Newport News – plus New Horizons Regional Education Center which serves all 6 peninsula school districts.  

At Norview Community Center, 30 teens got the opportunity to learn how to use a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine by setting up a design as a vector into the program and then watch as the rotary tool cut away at the material and creating their design of choice. Students are transported to Norview from Huntersville Community Center, Lambert’s Point Community Center, and Next Steps to Success each week to learn about and work with the machines.

Jason Dudley, MIBE’s Talent Pipeline Training Coordinator, set up the equipment at the schools and community centers and is leading the MTM summer camp extension.  

“By having the students pick out their own design for the CNC machine, it helps them become more engaged and interested in the entire process,” Jason said. “By the end of the seven weeks, our hope is that each student will be able to get hands-on with each piece of technology, get interested in what they can do with them, and are encouraged to consider careers in maritime skilled trades or advanced manufacturing.” 

The primary goal of the MTM program is to interest middle and high school students in the highly skilled industrial trades required for advanced manufacturing.

“This project provides increased opportunities for students to explore advanced manufacturing technologies and in-demand maritime career pathways,” said Dr. Mike Robinson, MIBE Executive Director and VMASC COO. “Nationally, we are dealing with a maritime workforce shortage and MTM provides a way to prepare the future workforce for advanced manufacturing careers, beginning in Hampton Roads.”

Jennifer Renne, Digital Ship Curriculum Coordinator, was pivotal in the development and pacing of curriculum activities, which builds on MTM project development for maritimetradesmagnet.org. There will also be more opportunities to participate in MTM during the school year at the Norfolk Technical Center.